Secure Nonprofit Networks
In 2024, DW launched Secure Nonprofit Networks, a service aimed at helping mission-driven organizations build out and modernize their digital infrastructure.
Nonprofits often face distinct challenges managing data and communications networks in a secure, efficient manner. Organizations often juggle multiple third-party applications and software solutions and frequently are understaffed (or not staffed at all) in critical IT areas.
On the communications and marketing front, nonprofits have to keep their websites current, with a perpetual need for content updates and functionality improvements. Copy and design must be engaging and intuitive while reinforcing the organization’s brand and mission.
Working with qualified tools, solutions and service providers, we are able to help mission-driven organizations ensure effective, secure management of their IT, data, communications and other digital infrastructure.
Louis Armstrong House Museum
DW has consulted and advised the Museum since 2020, including day-to-day operations support, audio-visual production and IT / Comms systems management. We have also provided grantwriting and fundraising strategy that has helped the Museum earn several major grants.
We also provided an array of services supporting the launch of the new Louis Armstrong Center in 2023, helping plan the ribbon cutting ceremony, media outreach, and the inaugural season of programming at the new Center.
City Artist Corps
In 2021, New York City committed $25 million to provide relief to working artists and reinvigorate arts and culture as part of the City's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants were awarded to 3,000 artists and a month-long series of Showcases were held at venues across the City.
Queens Theatre was selected as the lead partner to organize and run the City Artist Corps grant program. DW was retained by Queens Theatre to provide comprehensive project management of programming, publicity, and partner engagement, resulting in a series of live events that were among the first to occur in the City post-pandemic.
“Partnering with the City on a brand-new, fast-paced program, our organization was taking on a tremendous level of responsibility. Engaging Dan was the best decision that I made for the program. He is an exceptionally competent program designer and project manager - at the very top of the list of people I’ve worked with in my 20 years in nonprofit management. He would never flag an issue without also suggesting a course of action. Not only did he do his job well, but I was able to do mine at a higher level. ”
College of the Future
In 2021, Queens College Foundation retained DW to produce its first “virtual gala.” We produced a 45-minute presentation using remote production under atypical circumstances at the height of a global pandemic.
Returning to an in-person event in 2022, the Foundation wanted to intersperse pre-recorded video content into their live stage show. DW produced a series of interviews, musical performances and retrospective features to punctuate the evening's presentation. We collaborated with several departments and shot at various locations around campus, combining new and archival footage into the final cut.
Business For Good
Business For Good launched in 2021 with a mission of investing in people to build better businesses, stronger communities and a more equitable world. BFG focuses on sustained investments in people and the transformative power of entrepreneurship. With an ambitious year-one agenda, BFG needed to create its organizational structure and culture alongside its grantmaking and investing activities.
DW supported BFG in the creation of an employee handbook and personnel policies and advised leadership as they navigated the unique circumstances brought on by the global pandemic. We also helped in the development of marketing plans for several of the businesses in the BFG family and helped design an audience engagement survey to inform plans for one of BFG's redevelopment projects.
“As we navigated the start-up of our organization, I found Dan to be a tremendous resource, providing the informed and grown-up perspectives and advice we needed – everything from operations strategy and marketing to business planning and organizational culture. I looked forward to bouncing ideas off him as a partner who could help consider the conceptual frameworks as well as the practical realities. Dan is an exceptional wingman, and I would not hesitate to work with him again.”
A Farmer’s Dinner
Queens County Farm Museum dates back to 1697 and occupies New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. The 47-acre farm is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York State. The site includes historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard, and an herb garden.
In 2022, Queens Farm launched a 325th anniversary celebration with a major fundraising event, A Farmer’s Dinner to Benefit Queens County Farm. DW was engaged to produce the Dinner. We secured catering and entertainment, supported fundraising outreach and organized staff and volunteers for pre-event and day-of-event operations.
Louis Armstrong, Collage Artist
The Louis Armstrong House Museum sustains and promotes the legacy of Louis Armstrong, a founding father of jazz and America's first Black popular music icon. The Museum preserves the Armstrong home and archives, a 60,000 piece collection that is the largest of any jazz musician.
DW provides project management and strategic support for a number of organizational priorities. Recently, we helped develop and production of the exhibition Louis Armstrong, Collage Artist.
Known globally for his trumpet and his distinctive singing voice, fewer people know that Armstrong was also a prolific visual artist. For this exhibition, we selected a representative set of collages and created large-format reproductions. Viewing the collages, a visitor gets a glimpse of Armstrong performing on stage, posing with other legendary musicians, and hanging with neighbors in the den of his Corona, Queens, home. We get to see a fresh side of Armstrong, showing off his flair for improvisation and knack for humor with some of the more creative works made from photographs, clippings, and even a greeting card.